Post navigation

How to Avoid Injuries While Shoveling Snow

This might sound like the plot of a bad late-night movie, but sadly enough, multiple Americans die every winter from the seemingly innocuous activity of shoveling snow.

That’s because snow shoveling is a much more taxing physical activity than many people realize. For instance, it can increase heart rate and blood pressure to dangerous degrees.

The good news is that these sorts of deaths are rare. The bad news is that you’re still at risk of injuring your back or your joints while clearing snow from your driveway or sidewalk.

With that in mind, paying attention to the following tips will go a long way toward helping you avoid injuries while shoveling.

And if you happen to own a business in the Philadelphia-area suburbs, you may want to avoid the possibility of injuring yourself or your employees altogether by taking advantage of business snow removal in Bucks County. It’s a service we’ve been offering for many, many years.

But if you do decide to handle your Bucks County business’ snow removal yourself, remember…

Warm up your muscles before starting the job by stretching. After all, snow shoveling is an exercise just like any other.

Bundle up properly. When temperatures are below freezing, that means more than just throwing on a winter coat. Putting hand warmers inside your insulated gloves and waterproof boots can prevent frostbite, for instance.

If pets or other animals tend to make appearances on your business’ property, consider putting down pet-friendly salt and de-icing products.

When shopping for shovels, choose back-friendly models. A shovel with a curved handle, for instance, will allow you to keep your back straighter while shoveling.

You’ll also want to make sure the length of the shovel is right for the person using it. Look for a shovel that allows you to flex your back 10 degrees or less as you first push the shovel into the snow. Shovels with curved handles can often come in handy in this regard, as they generally allow you to keep your back straighter while shoveling.

Try to keep your scoops of snow as small as possible. That’s an extra important tip if the snow you’re dealing with is wet. In either case, take care to bend your knees and lift with your legs as you’re lifting a shovelful of snow. Bending at the waist, in other words, can put a serious strain on your back, so don’t do it.

Also, try not to outstretch your arms while holding a shovelful of snow, as you might do when preparing to toss it. That sort of action can also injure the spine. Instead, walk to the location where you’re dumping your snow.

Naturally, you’ll want to take frequent breaks while shoveling, and you’ll want to stop immediately if you become short of breath, dizzy, or lightheaded, or if you feel a tightness in your chest.

Those are all serious warning signs; they’re your body’s way of telling you to stop what you’re doing and rest, post haste.

There is, of course, an easy way to avoid having to worry about any of the potential dangers involved with the removal of snow: paying for the privilege of business snow removal in Bucks County. Along with saving you time, it may also end up saving you from untold hours of spine pain!

The Realty Landscaping snow and ice removal crew will be on call for you 24/7, should you choose to take advantage of our services. After more than 25 years of industry experience, we’re known for our thorough, fair, and accurate pricing, and for our responsive customer service.

Care for more details? Reach out today, and let us know how we can make your Bucks County business life simpler, all winter long.